While the U.S. remains divided in the wake of a disputedpresidential election, there is solidarity on the PGA Tour, onwhich a bunch of mostly rich white guys craving tax relief arethrilled to have a conservative Administration for which BenCrenshaw plays Arnie to Dubya's Ike. That explains why radiopersonality Rush Limbaugh felt right at home during the AT&TPebble Beach National Pro-Am.

The Monterey Peninsula may have been a den of leftist hedonism inthe '60s, and Al Gore easily carried California in November. Butmost of the fans who followed Limbaugh last week as he strode thefairways with friend and pro partner Fuzzy Zoeller definitelyweren't candidates for libosuction--the process Limbaugh threatensto administer to callers who he thinks exhibit liberaltendencies.

Proud to call themselves dittoheads, many of the fans inLimbaugh's gallery wore red-white-and-blue outfits and carriedbooks for their hero to sign. Knowing that he was among hispeople, Limbaugh played the magnanimous leader. "Watch out on theleft," Limbaugh, an 18 handicapper, said with mock solemnitybefore hitting his opening drive in the second round. After agood shot (there weren't many for Limbaugh and Zoeller, whomissed the Pro-Am cut) Limbaugh would pop a cigar the size of aredwood into his mouth and open his arms, pontifflike, toacknowledge the multitudes, who called out things like "God blessyou, sir."

The Tour pros were only slightly less enraptured. "I didn't knowRush was playing," gushed Mark O'Meara. "If I see him, I'm goingto introduce myself." Said Tom Pernice, who played the firstthree rounds with Limbaugh and had him autograph a book and posefor a photo, "Ninety-nine percent of us are true believers ofRush."

Believe it or not, there used to be a Dem or three on Tour.Commissioner Tim Finchem was a deputy adviser for President JimmyCarter's economic office in the late '70s. Scott Simpson votedfor George McGovern in '72, as did Tom Watson. But they've allchanged their stripes. Finchem hints that he voted for George W.Bush. Simpson proudly admits he voted for Bush, while Watson saysof his vote for McGovern, "I was an idiot."

Not surprisingly, Tiger Woods keeps his political leaningsprivate, as does Zoeller, who deflected questions about hisrelationship with Limbaugh by saying, "I have yet to figure outpolitics." Others prefer to play dumb. David Berganio, a Hispanicwho grew up in East Los Angeles in a family that sometimes livedon welfare, played a practice round with Limbaugh last week andsaid that politics were never discussed. "I don't really know hispositions on things," Berganio said.

To Limbaugh, whose only previous pro-am appearances came at lastyear's Bob Hope Classic and the Greater Greensboro Classic, guyswho play golf for pay are role models. "This is an escape frompolitics, but it's nice to be among people of like mind," hesaid. "The Tour is entrepreneurism on parade. This is everyonefor himself. Nothing is guaranteed. That's what conservatives andlibertarians identify with."

Not everyone at the AT&T did the Limbaugh rock. Bill Murray,whose former Saturday Night Live colleague Al Franken wrote thebest-seller Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, had his own take."I find Rush amusing and a good entertainer," Murray said. "Now,if you listen to his politics, you would think that he had maybenot necessarily sniffed glue as a teenager, but maybe sniffedglue as an adult. But I don't think he takes himself tooseriously."

Senior Tour on TVCNBC a Switch For the Better

This year CNBC replaced ESPN as the television home of the Seniortour. ESPN had covered the tour since 1990, but after only twotelecasts CNBC looks like an upgrade. New camera angles andcleaner graphics give CNBC a sleeker look, and additionalmicrophones bring viewers closer to the action. Also, althoughthe seven announcers, anchored by Mark Rolfing, are still gettingused to one another, they're more informed and energetic than thelistless Jim Kelly-led ESPN crew.

That said, CNBC can improve. Rolfing is informative, but with histhin voice and excitable manner, he lacks the heft to be a topanchor. CNBC president Bill Bolster is considering bringing inguest anchors such as NBC's Matt Lauer and Tim Russert. "Sort oflike an interesting playing partner during a round," saysBolster.

Lead analyst Brian Barnes, a 55-year-old Englishman, has thetools to become a star in the booth: a solid playing backgroundand a cradle-of-the-game accent. Before phlebitis and arthritisended his playing career last season, Barnes was well known forhis sense of mischief. So far, though, he has said little that'splayful or insightful. Also off to a tentative start is teachingpro Jim McLean. A freewheeling McLean could be as good as JohnnyMiller, but he needs to take off the headcover and let it rip.Another problem is CNBC's bottom-of-the-screen scoring ticker. Itticks me off. I know the ticker is a staple of CNBC's financialcoverage, but golf scores don't have the import or urgency ofstock quotes.

The crucial question, however, is CNBC's lack of live coverage.Will enough of the network's affluent viewers watch tape-delayedtelecasts to rejuvenate the tour's sagging ratings? The hunchhere is they will.

PHIL MICKELSON made the right play at 18 on Sunday. Going for theoceanside green with a driver from 257 yards might seem like apoor decision when, if he had laid up, a wedge and a one-puttwould have produced a tying birdie. However, the skill andconfidence of today's top players makes what was once foolhardy aworthy gamble. Mickelson is a part of the new order. He simplyfailed to pull off the shot.

ThreesomesWhat do these players have in common?

--Phil Mickelson--Scott Simpson--Craig Stadler

They're the only active players born in San Diego who've wontheir hometown tournament, the Buick Invitational.

Hilary Homeyer, Edina, Minn.Homeyer, a senior at Stanford, led wire to wire while winning theSouth Atlantic Ladies Amateur at Oceanside Country Club in OrmondBeach, Fla. An honorable mention All-America last spring for theCardinal, Homeyer shot a one-over 289 to defeat runners-up MarthaLeach and Aree Wongluekiet by six strokes.

Rick Woulfe, Fort Lauderdale Woulfe, 51, won the Senior Division of the Dixie Amateur at PalmAire Country Club in Pompano Beach, Fla. Woulfe, the president ofthe Florida State Golf Association, beat defending champ Rick TenBroeck of Chicago 4 and 3 in the final. Woulfe prevailed in theOpen Division in '92, defeating a 16-year-old Tiger Woods in thesemis.

Nannette Hill, Pelham Manor, N.Y.Nannette, 13, took the women's club championship at PelhamCountry Club, downing Kazuko Uchida 5 and 4 in the final. Now aneighth-grader at Pelham Middle School, Hill last summer becamethe youngest ever to win the New York junior girls' championship,which is open to golfers 18 and under.